An address to all the colored citizens of the United States

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AN

ADDRESS

TO ALL THE

COLORED CITIZENS

UNITED STATES.
BY JOHN B. MEACHUM,

PASTOR OF THE AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH, ST. LOUIS', MO.

Ethiopia shall aoon stretch out her hands unto God.— Psalm 68, 31.

PHILADELPHIA :
PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR,

BY KING AND BAIRD.

1846.

PREFACE .

Dear Friends:— The author of this little book
was bora a slave, in Goochland county, Vir-
ginia, May 3d, 1789. I belonged to a man by
the name of Paul Meachum, who moved to
North Carolina, and lived there nine years. He
then moved to Hardin county, Kentucky, where
I still remained a slave with him. He was a
good man and I loved him, but could not feel
myself satisfied, for he was very old, and looked
as if death was drawing near to him. So I
proposed to him to hire my time, and he granted
it. By working in a saltpetre cave I earned
enough to purchase my freedom.

Still I was not satisfied, for I had left my
father in old Virginia, and he was a slave. It
seemed to me, at times, though I was seven
■hundred miles from him, that I held conversa-
tion with him, for he was near my heart. How-
ever this did not stop here, for industry will do
a great deal. In a short time I went to Vir-
ginia, and bought my father, and paid one
hundred pounds for him, Virginia money. It

was a joyful meeting when we met together,
for we had been apart a long time. He was a
Baptist preacher, living in Hanover county, and
went b-y the name of Thomas Granger. While
there, on a Sunday morning after 1 had bought
the old man, he was singing and my eyes filled
with tears. He turned to me and said, " you are
yet in your sins.'^ His words went to my heart,
and I began to pray and seek the Lord. Four
weeks from that day I found peace in believing
upon the Lord Jesus, related my experience to
the church, and was baptized by elder Purinton,
in Louisa county. This was in the year 1811,
when I was about twenty-one years old. My
father and myself then earned enough to pay
our expenses on the way, and putting our
knapsacks on our backs walked seven hundred
miles to Hardin county, Kentuckj^ Here the
Old man met his wife and all his children, who
had been there several years. Oh there was

ml

In a short time, my mother and all her child-
ren received their liberty, of their good old
master. My father and his family settled in
Harrison county, Indiana.

I married a slave in Kentucky, whose master
soon took her to St. Louis, *in Missouri. I fol-
lowed her, arriving there in 1815, with three
dollars in my pocket. Being a carpenter and
cooper I soon obtained business, and purchased
my wife and children. Since that period, I
have purchased about twenty slaves, most of

whom paid back the greatest part of the
money, and some paid all. They are all free
at this time, and doing well, excepting one, who
happened to be a drunkard, and no drunkard
can do well. One of the twenty colored friends
that I bought is worthy to be taken notice of,
to show what industry will do. I paid for him
one thousand dollars. He worked and paid
back the thousand dollars. He has also bought
a lot of ground for which he paid a thousand
dollars. He married a slave and bought her,
and paid seven hundred dollars for her. He
has built a house that cost him six hundred
dollars. He is a blacksmUh, and has worked
for one man ever since he has been in St. Louis.
So much for industry.

I commenced preaching in 1821, and was or-
dained as a minister of the gospel in 1825. From
that time to this, I have been the pastor of the
African Baptist Church in St. Louis, which has
now more than five hundred members. The
Sunday school has an attendance from one
hundred and fifty to three hundred.

I have written this little book to show you
the great desire I have for the- welfare of this
people. I hope each colored person will read
this with a great deal of care, knowing it is for
your welfare, both soul and body. My dear
friends, I have been looking at the long distance
this people is behind others, and it makes my
boul mourn their sad state. I will tell you
what I have been thinking of, — I have thought
1*

it likely that this people is away from home,
and God hath got a place somewhere that they
can see great comfort and satisfaction. And so
friends, let us become united, and keep in union
against the time comes.

Do not look at this little book with a careless
eye, but receive instruction and advice. I want
you to take notice that Israel started very fair
for the promised land, all minds bent the way
God told them to go. But they rebelliously
turned back in heart, and God left them to wan-
der in the wilderness till all the old heads died,
excepting Caleb and Joshua. It was only
about forty days journey in a straight course,
but God made them wander forty years before
they reached Canaan. So, my friends, we
may start fair for this union, and a great many
may turn back in heart, and never enter the
promised land. He that puts his hand to the
plough and looks back is not fit for the king-
dom.

My heart is enlarged for the welfare of this
people. I wish them to be industrious and
religious in their feelings. If union is God
Almighty's plan, let us hasten to it. The bles-
sing of God will rest upon us. But we may
reject the council of the Father of Light and
Knowledge to our hurt.

Be faithful unto death, and you shall have a
crown of life. •

John B. Meachum.

SL Louis y Jiugusty 1846.

ADDRESS.

Psalm 133, 1st verse. " Behold, how good and how plea-
sant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity 1"

Providence has placed us all on the shores
of America — and God has said, " Ethiopia
shall soon stretch out her hands unto God."
Psalm 68, 31.

This being true, is it not necessary that some
exertion should be made ? Ought we not to
use our influence and the means placed in
our power for the consummation of this end.
All will admit that we are capable of elevating
ourselves, for we have once been distinguished
as one of the greatest nations, and it is reason-
able to suppose that what has once been can
be again. Sin has degraded us, but righteous-
ness will exalt us. We are under positive
moral obligations to effect this object, by our
religious influence, by mental culture, and by
appropriating a portion of our worldly goods
to the accomplishment of this end. Should we
wilfully neglect embracing the facilities and
means we have of effecting this object, it will
be said to us on the final day of accounts,
-'' depart from me, for ye knew your duty and
did it not."

8

I now proceed to state by what means we
came to America, and the cause of our degra-
dation as a people. History informs us that the
first inhabitants of America who came from Af-
rica were transported from Guinea. Las Casas,
who was a great friend to the Indians, who were
then forced to work in mines by he Spaniardts,
interposed, and had these Africans forced to do
that which the Indians had been compelled to do.
The Indians therefore were released from bond-
age'entirely, and the Africans made to substitute
them. Thus you perceive he enslaves one na-
tion to liberate the other. Strange benevolence
this, that he should employ so much of his time
and influence in securing liberty to the Indians,
while at the same time he made every possible
effort to reduce the African to the same state
of servitude ! He went so far as to go to
Spain and procure a grant for the transporta-
tion of four thousand negroes in order to se-
cure to the Indians their personal rights and
freedom.

About 1620 a Dutch vessel brought African
slaves to the colony of Jamestown, Virginia.

Our people had war among themselves in
Africa. They brought wuh them the same
principles here, — envy, hatred, malice, jealousy.
The principles which they possessed, originated
doubtless, from ignorance and from the fact
that they belonged to separate kingdoms and
fought against each other while there, and cou-

sequently retained the same feelings of hostility
and enmity abroad.

God has formed man out of .clay, and all na-
tions have sprung therefrom. It is therefore not
natural for man to hate his fellow, but it is to
be traced to other causes. Shall we then who
are of the same species, same color, &c., culti-
vate and cherish a principle so contrary to rea-
son and scripture, and in its consequences so
direful and disastrous ?

Our people can only distinguish themselves
as a nation by " fearing God," and '^ working
righteousness," for " righteousness exalteth a
nation, But sin is a reproach to any people."
We must therefore be united in love and affec-
tion—our interests, aims, and hopes must be
one — for in the language of the text, " Behold
how good and how pleasant it is for brethren
to dwell together in unity !" We must culivate
all the christian graces which the apostle Peter
recommends — "add to your faith virtue, and
to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge tem-
perance, and to temperance patience, and to
patience godliness, a^nd to godliness brotherly
kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity."
Upon the exercise of these graces and christian
qualities depend our elevation in this life, and
our eternal happiness in the woi;ld to come.

We must have union — we "can and must
have it, else we shall remain in darkness, igno-
rance and superstition, in a state of moral and
intellectual degradation. It is an old maxim

10

with which you are all famiUar — ^'^ii union
there is strengtli." Again, " united we stand,
divided we fall.'^ Let us then be of one mind,
and one spirit, and cultivate that principle of
true benevolence which will exert a wholesome
and salutary influence on the world, secure the
blessings of God upon us, and benefit our own
son Is.

Diversity of opinion may exist in regard to
the formation of this union. One may assert,
I am a Methodist, another, I am a Baptist, and
another, I am a Presbyterian, but different
persuasions should not prevent our union, — we
should not possess any sectarian feeling or
party spirit. Union should be our constant
watchword — it should be the standard to which
all of us should rally. As in family relations,
so in national affairs, — for example, a man and
his wife are at variance, they disagree among
themselves, but let any thing arise pertaining
to the interest of the whole family, all minor
differences and opinions are forthwith for-
gotten and they become united as one. Let
us then, at this 'important crisis when a tnatter
is pending which is bearing upon our present
and eternal destiny, lose sight of all party
spirit and sectarian feelings, and unite in one
band of love, for, as says the Psalmist, " Be-
hold how good and how pleasant it is for
brethren to dwell together in unity !"

Union must begin among the free, then ex-
tend to all. Excuse the remark, I care not

11

where it' commence, but it is more in the power
of the free to promote it than those who are
differently situated, and I verily believe that
only a portion of the free should be consulted
in the outset — they should be men of worth,
good, moral, religious, intelligent, influential
men, whose only object would be to promote
the glory of God and to do good to their fellow
men ; with such men at the head, great and
wonderful things could be accomplished. Mo-
ses, for example, did not go to all the Israelites,
but to the elders only when he called the peo-
ple together. I will state some measures or
plan by which the elders could assemble them-
selves together, and devise some method to
effect this great and important object. In order
to do this, I would propose that a Convention
be held at some time and place, and ministers
of all denominations be invited to attend, and
adopt some measures to attain this point, which
if attained will be instrumental in securing for
us peace, happiness and liberty.

It is a common thing for people t-o suppose
that our oppression is occasioned by severe re-
strictions and disabilities laid upon us by others,
but the truth is you keep yourselves down, for
as long as you continue 'to speak evil one of
the other and use abusive epithets, and back-
bite, ridicule and reproach one another with
opprobrious names, just so long will you be op-
pressed, for it is an old and true maxitn, "if you

12

do not respect yourself others will not respect
you.*'

The term Negro originated from a river in
Africa called Niger, but it is now used as a
term of reproach by both black and white —
we must therefore stop it, for unless we do,
others will use and apply those terms to us
with impunity. Yea, the great misfortune is
that you do not respect yourselves suffici-
ently; families, societies, religious denomina-
tions speak evil one of another, and thereby in
a great measure destroy the influeuce which
they might otherwise exert. To sum up all in
a few words, "these things ought not so to
be."

Many years have elapsed and no general
steps have as yet been taken — it is time we
were up and doing. We should shake off our
lethargy and make the best use of the means
we have. In the first place, parents should by
no means neglect the education of their child-
ren, but should endeavor to instil such prin-
ciples in them when young as could never be
eradicated by time, place, or circumstance. —
You are all aware that impressions can be made
upon the mind of the child when young which
will be as lasting as time itself, for, says Solo-
mon, " train up a child the way he should go
and when he is old he will not depart from
it." Prov. xxii. 6. We should obey God, for
obedience, as saith the scripture, is better than

13

sacrifice. When the children of Israel obeyed
Moses, the enemy fell on every side; when dis-
obedient they were conquered by their enemies ;
We cannot therefore expect to accomplish any
thing until we are living in the discharge of
every duty urged upon us by the Lord, "for
success is from the Lord, without him we can
do nothing."

When this union of sentiment, feeling and
affection is formed and established among us,
we can by the organization of societies, the
erection of schools and the establishment of
colleges, institutions and seminaries of learning,
soon arrive to the same scale of being which
those who are considered our superiors have
attained. We are susceptible of acquiring the
same attainments and arriving to the same
elevation that others have attained, which can
be substantially proved by history or analogy,
reason and philosophy. Shall we not, I then
ask, attain this end — ought we not ? Surely
none will say, Nay. Then let us be united.

Let us well consider these things. Look at
the young and rising generation. See the great
massif them growing up without education.
What is the reason of this ? We answer, be-
cause the fathers are not united, and the children
growing up without union to the great body of
I their fellow beings of the same color. The
mother hath not taught it to the child, and he
has nothing to rouse his mind to action. But
et us take it in consideration now and wake
2

14

lip the minds of our children. We are bound by
the law of God and man, and our gopd sense,
to train up our children in the way they shall
go when young, that when they grow old
they should not depart from it. " Love your
neighbor as yourself," is the command of the
New Testament. We are morally bound by
the law of God to teach this to our children.
Union is love. What father is in the world
that cannot teach the child this principle that
the Savior hath commanded? Surely our
people have not considered what God hath re-
quired of us to do for the young race of peo-
ple. Our fathers were not able to do any thing
for us as to education, and we feel the need of
it. So, reader, let us duly consider what is
best for this people and hasten to do it. Union
is the strong cord that binds nations together.
Then let the mother teach it to the child, and
let the father not forget that he is accountable
before God for the raising of his children.
Recollect that for the faithfulness of Noah God
gave him his children to be saved with him.
** And the Lord said unto Noah, come thou and
all thy house into the ark; for thee have I
seen ri'ghteous before me in this generation."
Genesis vii. 1. Then let us wake up in this
matter, that we may be enabled to teach men
fully the way to those under our control.
Union ! oh this lovely union exalts nations and
keeps heaven secure. Then let us look around
and see how far our people are from being a

15

united people. Now what can we expect if
we continue to stand in the same condition, —
no union existing among so large a mass of
people. The God of heaven is willing for us
to be a unhed people. The Lord Jesus Christ
himselfsays,"how often would I have gathered
thy children together, as a hen doth gather her
brood under her wings, and ye would not.''
Luke xiii. 34. Then let us look to him with
a full purpose of heart that this union may be
effected. We have every thing before us.
Here are the gospel ministers that cannot teach
any thing else to their hearers consistent with
the doctrines which they preach, peace and
love and union with all men. Now, my breth-
ren, let us look at this matter and see if we
are not a great way off from being in union.
Still, you say, ^^you must love one another,
this is the good doctrine that God the eternal
loves." Then, I ask the reader, why stand
you so far from being a united people ? The
word of God tells us, "ask, and it shall be
given you; seek, and y^ shall find." Luke xi.
10. And again he tells us, '^ If any of you lack
wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to
all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it
shall be given him." James i. 5. Have you
done it ? If you have, then thy heart is clear
for this union.

Let the fathers look at our race of people
and see if there is not needed a great cultiva-
tion in order to bring it to what it ought to be.

16

In the first place they ought to be a united peo-
ple, and then they should go on with a general
education of our race. Looking particularly
on the young race, we have a great deal to do.
My dear reader, I think we have been asleep
ever since we have corner into existence, and it
is now high time that we should awake out of
sleep before we are awakened by the thunders
of Jehovah to give account of our stewardship
in this world. This nation lost their standing
as a people by disobedience, and shall we still
live in disobedience and not endeavor to cul-
tivate the mind of our people when we see
how much it is needed. Let us redeem the
time now by coming together and having our
hearts warm with this union, that is so com-
pletely calculated to do this people good. All
of us know what division is, for we have been
trying it for many years, and what has been
gained by it? 1 answer, nothing but strife and
confusion. Look at it, my friends, and see if
God do not require better things of us. Look
around again, and see this great nation coming
up in the world. There are hundreds of thou-
sands of colored children under sixteen years
of age ! Will the fathers stand so far distant
from each other that this young race of people's
case cannot be reached ? Are we not recom-
mended by our blessed Lord to be as lights in
the world, or as a city set on a hill that cannot
be hid. And we are recommended to let the
light shine so that others may see our good

17

work and glorify our Father which is in heaven.
Understand it well, that these words are not to
be looked at by the reader and then thought no
more of. Take notice ! — Charily begins at
home, and these words were spoken by the
blessed Savior, and should we not hearken to
the voice of God ? if we will not hearken to
man's words concernmg our own welfare, cer-
tainly we should pay the strictest attention to
the voice of our Creator that made heaven and
earth, and formed man for his own glory. I
ask the reader, if it would not be to the glory of
God for us to endeavor to train up our children
in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?
Then if you think so, let us feel it a duty en-
joined upon every son and daughter of our
race, to endeavor to become united, that we
may throw our mites together, and have schools
in every state and county where the free child-
ren are in large numbers. How can this be
done, unless we come tc^ether as a band of
united brethren, and make agreement that we
will no longer stand in opposition one against
the other, but that our hearts and souls shall be
united together. The principle that we have
been living under is the old African principle,
kingdom against kingdom, and nation against
nation. Let every colored citizen wage war
against that old African principle that was the
means of throwing the first colored man on the
American soil. Will you hold that principle
any longer that has been your downfall ? Come,
2*

IS

brethren, let u^ proclaim union in every breast*
Let all become peace-makers. God hath said;
"Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall
be called the children of God. '^ Matthew v. 9.
I ask, if there be any one among our people
who would not say, " let me be a child of God.''
Then be a peace makerj^nd be united in love,
and just as sure as the words are left on record
you shall be called the child of God, "and if
children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint
heirs with Christ." Romans viii. 17. There
is nothing better than to be called a child of
God by the blessed Saviour who knows the
hearts of all men. Then let us seek peace
with all men. If we attend to these things,
the blessing of heaven will be upon this large
mass of people that hath been so long under
the Y/eather. Consider that the God of heaven
is righteous, and never will 3^ou be a people
until you do right. When we look back and
view the- Tsraelites^when they left their land,
there were only about ' three score and ten
souls, and then see the great number that they
grew to be. When they left Egypt, there
were six hundred thousand men over twenty
years of age. The Levites were not num-
bered with the rest of the Israelites. Then
look at the number under twenty years, and
you must see that there was a great number.
Then look at our number of children that are
imder sixteen, and see if it does not give a
thought that we ought to take .this young race

19

ill hand, and attend to them faithfully by bring-
ing them up God fearing and God thinking
children ?

Here is one thing that I shall name to every
father or mother, or any head of a family, we
^heuld endeavor to raise our children with as
much industry as w# possibly can. Work
never hurts the child. See particularly that
they are raised up nicely in their manners and
their deportment. It takes a long time to get
the training of a child out of him, and if it is
good we do not want to get it out of him. In
order that we might do more for our young
children, I would recommend manual labor
scJiools to be established in the different states,
so as the children could have free access to
them. And I would recommend in these
schools pious teachers, either white or colored,
who would take all pains with the children to
bring them up in piety, and in industrious
habits. We must endeavor to have our child-
ren look up a little, for' they are too many to
lie in idleness and dishonor. Just as sure as
you see a lazy child, and his parent cannot
break that child from his laziness, he is very
apt to become a disgrace to his parents and to
himself, and not fit for any society. So let us
endeavor to keep laziness out of our children ;
let them be raised up honorable men and.
women. Honorable, did you say? Yqs,
and perfectly honest. You never did see a
rogue an honorable man. Let the child look

20

at these things hhnself. If he hath any heart
to be an honorable man, he would not be a
thief, stealing Uttle things and by and by begin
on big things, just as he grows old enough to
hide it, as he thinks. But when he thinks all
is safe and hid, somebody sees him, and pre-
sents him to be tried bj^the laws of the coun-
try, he is found guilty and condemned to the
state prison. Not only so, see the whole
family disgraced by the conduct of one mem-
ber of that family. So much, then, for stealing.
Always avoid that one thing, and you can be
as honorable a man in society as any other in-
dustrious man.

Let us attend to the things that are calcu-
lated to elevate the colored citizens of America.
Ev^ery man endeavor to be an honorable man,
and then we can have an honorable society.
We know that there are some of our people*
so full of that old African principle that they
have no desire that this people should become
united that they may be more able to do some-
thing for this young race that is coming along
so rapidly. We will pull such along if we can,
and when we can hold them no longer, we
will let them go and renounce them, but have
an eye to their children.

I have said much about children, but I have
not told all my thoughts about the dear little
damsels, so near and dear to the mother. Touch
one of them, and you touch her heart string
at once. Then, dear mother, if you love your

21

daughter, show it in doing all you can do for
those so near to your bosom. Teach her the
right way to live in this world that she may be
happy in the world to come. Teach them
morality — teach them to be decent and modest
in their deportment. Mothers too often let
girls go their own way, and they go to their
ruin. Let them know that there is one right
way. Industry is right, then make them in-
dustrious. Do not scold and fret at the child-
ren, but counsel them, talk with them a great
deal and endeavor to get them to do right.
Give them " line upon line, and precept upon
precept.'^ When you get through your good
advice.and find the child still disobedient, then
you must give him or her what all disobedient
children ought to have in order to let them
know that the voice of a mother must be re-
garded by the child. Never allow the child to
tell you a lie^ and if you promise him any thing
keep your word Having gone through a nice
conversation with him, mothers are too apt to
get in a passion, and in that passion correct the
child too severely. Some go' so far as to strike
them over the head, or knock them to the
ground because they are mad. These things
ought not so to be. Hold your temper and
spare the child till you get right for correction.
Recollect that God hath given you that child
for his glory and your comfort, and again I tell ^
you that you are accountable to God for the
^raising of the child.

22

These things ought to lay near the heart of
this people, and see if our senses will not come
to us more than heretofore, concerning duties
that we owe to God, before we can be any
thing that we ought to be. Look over the
fields that are white and ready for harvest.
Come, friends, have union one with the other.
0 this union ! let us try it. Believe God, and
see if he will not open the windows of heaven
and pour us out such a wonderful blessing
that there shall not be room enough to contain
it. Now let the little book hunt out the united
brethren. Free colored citizens of America,
here is my hand and here is my heart. We
will travel to ImmanuePs land where sickness,
sorrow, pain or death, are feared and felt no
more. Then let us come together and strike
hands on this union, — and not merely talk
'about this impo' .it union that we have so
long wanted and can't do without.

The time will be appointed that we shall
have our first meeting. Come on, my friends,
from the east and from the west, and from the
north and from the south, to the appointed
place where union shall fill every breast and be
the cry of every heart. There are some of our
people that have got so near white that they
do not seem to care for their people. Recant
this principle, and stamp it under your feet, for
there is no good in this order of things. The
blood is there and you can't get it away, and|i
you will understand, pure gold is considered "

23

better than a mixture, froQi this draw your
ideas, and come along wherever the blood is
found and join this united band of colored,
citizens of America. United we stand, divided
we fall. Strife and division have been the
downfall of Africa, and it ever has, and ever
will be the downfall of any people. Go on in
division, and see whether you can ever be ex-
alted as a nation. By this you see the evil
that is attached to it. Disunion is the worst
thing that ever happened to any nation of peo-
ple. Look at our present state, and of things
in general ; for instance, you will look at the
hurches, if you please ; whilst they are in
anion all things goes well, but as sure as dis-
union takes place, it seems as if Satan was let
oose among the people, — no peace nor satis-
action, and I have thought that the devil was
et loose among our people to see them so far
rom being a united people, not having an eye
o that which will make their peace in this
ivorld and in the world to come. Come, friends,
peak for union one to .the other, or will you
leep away the time till Jehovah's thunders
all you to make peace with all mankind
iving under heaven, for the day is coming that
loliness shall be written on the *^ bells of
he horses," — " In that day shall there be
ipon the bells of the horses, Holiness unto
HE Lord." Zechariah xiv. 20. " And they
ihall teach no more every man his neigh-
bor, and every man his brother, saymg, know

24

the Lord : for they shall all know me, from the
least of them unto the greatest of them, saith
the Lord/' Jeremiah xxxi. 34.

Have you any objection to union when you
see it has to exist in heaven, when worlds shall
exist no more ? How long shall it be that thi?
people, who have been great in their time, shall
stand so much in their own light? Shall we
still endeavor to throw the blame on others,
while we will not get right nor do right our-
selves ? Brethren, v/e will have to take new
steps if we ever expect to please God, for
*^' he that soweth bountifully shall also reap
bountifully, and he that soweth sparingly,
shall also reap sparingly." Look at the colored
citizens of America ; I must think that they have
sowed more sparingly than any other nation
that I can think of at this time, so they are
re?vping sparingly, 'just according to the word
of God. Look at the nations of the earth, and
compare this people with them, and see if they
are not sowing sparingly and reaping sparingly.
See the houses and farms all in good order. Dc
they belong to colored citizens ? No ! and ^■,
what is the reason that great houses and farms m
do not belong to some of the colored citizens I'
of America? In the first place, the most off
them settle hi towns, ajid there they work'
every way but the right way. " Let us take in %
consideration some of these Wctys. In the first; |
place, they let too much of the morning pass |
away before they get their eyes open. You ,|

I

25

know that there is no better time to begin a
piece of work than in the morning. Well, I
have been looking at different towns in
America. Who owns all the fine houses ? do
the colored citizens ? No, with few exceptions,
you are too idle or too wasteful. With industry
you may have as good a farm as your neigh-
bor's. You may raise as good corn and oats,
wheat and barley and rye as any man. The
God of heaven sends the rains to water the
earth, and my crop is watered with my neigh-
bor. Then, I ask, why are you so far behind ?
You are to be a nation in time to come, let us
be an industrious people.

I recommend the colored citizens of America
to turn their attention more to farming than
they ever have done. You can have your
orchard in a few years, peaches, apples, plums,
and all kind of fruit that grows. Not only so,
but you can have your cattle, — see the old lady
milk the cows in the morning, making ready
for breakfast, while the father is looking over
the field, and feeding his stock, and the little
children as fat as butter. Did you see the large
stock of turkies and the large stock of geese ?
mother raised them all in one year, we shall
pluck them and make our beds, and then we
shall have feathers to sell that will help father
a good deal in his old age. We shall also
shear our sheep, and that will be some help.
Let us sell some cattle and horses, and buy
another farm for James or Nancy, as they are
3

• 26

coming up in years and will soon be of age.
Take notice, this is all come up from the earth.
A good, industrious farmer will soon have all
these things and more than I can describe.
Then if a farmer's life is so good, it is a won-
der that more of those that live in towns do
not make their homes in the country. Surely
the world is large enough for every body, and
if you cannot get good land at one place you
can at another. He that has good land has
encouragement. I would not recommend this
people to settle on poor ground, like many of
the free people in old Virginia and North
Carolina, who settled on poor hills that will
hardly bring blackberries. There is the state
of Illinois, it is a fine country and a free state.
And there is the state of Michigan, the finest
country likely in America, and many others
that I could mention, such as Iowa and Wis-
consin. But go and see, and please 3'-ourselves,
for I am sure that if you are pleased living on
land and raising only five or ten bushels of
corn to the acre, you would be better pleased
by taking your wife and children to a country
where you could by the same industry, raise
from forty to fifty, or even sixty to eighty
bushels of corn to the acre. Then stop dream-
ing over poor land. Besides all this, farming
is the most independent life that a man can
live, most especially for the colored citizens of
America, who cannot hold any office according
to the laws of the different states. But you

27

can hold a farm, more especially if you pay for
it, and I am led to believe that it is the greatest
office in the United States of America. So
I should like to see a number of our people
try it and see if it is not a good office. If you
are poor, endeavor to earn fifty dollars, and
with that fifty dollars you can buy forty acres
of land in the new states that I have men-
tioned.

I have found great fault of our people for
the way they put up things about them in
building. It seems that if they ca'n just get
the cabin to keep the rain out, they don't care
how the balance looks.. Do have it neat, having
a little pride about putting up the cabin, though
small. And keep all things nicely that are
around, and the blessing of heaven will attend
you.

It may be that some of the people may have
a desire to know the views that I have concern-
ing this race of people. In the first place, I
shall take notice of them in their scattered con-
dition. They are scattered in almost every
part of the v/orld — few have houses or lands
that are now in the United States and places
around; take them in general, they have no
home, though born in America. No home !
0 ! is not this race of people to be pitied by all
the Christian world 1 They are in a wander-
ing condition. It puts me in mind of the wan-
dering Israelites, that wandered a lifetime, and
had no home. 0 ! where is the heart that can-

28

not pity this race 1 Look at the young race,Jio\v
fast tlffey are rising up ; shall they be in the
same condition, without Jiomes, wandering
about from place to place, learning all kinds of
vice 1 Oh I fathers, has not the God of heaven
and earth given you strength and health?
Have you not the use of your limbs, the same
as other men 1 Then, I ask, what is the matter,
that you cannot settle yourselves on farms,
buy them, and make homes for your young
children that are coming up? I am confident
that you X3an do better than you are doing ;
some have no home, and yet have been free
their lifetime ; or it may be, only twenty years,
and this day got no home !

How shall this evil be remedied? There is
only one cure for it, and that I will mention,
hoping the reader will comply with the terms;
I am fully convinced, from long experience, of
this cure. You tell me that you have been
healthy and stout, but you have used all your
best days, and have no home ; look, and see
what is the matter. What is the reason of this
sad state of things with this race of people 1
Some are as hard-working men as ever need
be. Can you tell me the reason why you have
no home with all your industry } I have looked
at the foreigners who have emigrated to this
country, looking as though they have not had
one dollar in all their lives; and in a few years
they have good homes. They seem to be as
poor as any body need to be ; some, I see pick-

29

ing up coffee and corn and wheat and all the
little sticks of wood that they can find, and
carrying them to the place where they hve.
But stop, in a little time and they have a home;
and yet yon who were born in America, have
DO home ! Come, friends, it is high time that
we should be going to look at these things,
and not let every old horse that puts his foot
in the path, outrun us. I tell you that there is
but one cure for this, and you can be cured if
you will comply with instruction. But this
disease has been standing a long time, and you
know that is the hardest disease to cure. It
will take great exertion to break up the disease
and cure the patient. He often has this com-
plaint in his feet and in his knees and in his
hands, and he can hardly keep his eyes open
long enough to tell where his complaint is.
No wonder that you are left so far behind ;
you neither comply, nor tell the complaint ; I
told you that I felt a little fearful of the old
complaints. However, I shall describe one
thing, and if that will not do, I do not know
what will do. Will you tell me how you feel
just at this time, and all your family around
you, depending on you to bring something in
the house for them 1 Take notice, you are not
getting much by sitting looking into that little
fire you have. I have gone all around the
complaint, and if you will help me a little, I
shall be able to get to the root of this matter 5

3*

30

but you must tell me how you felt while I have
been going around to get to the matter fully,
and make a final cure. I think you can begin
to see the complaint, and will endeavor to get
rid of it as soon as possible ; and you can have
all things that this earth affords. Rise early,
get to business as soon as you can ; work late,
and be kind and affectionate to your family ;
do not stand in the streets till it is time for
dinner, and then go home and have nothing to
eat.

We are lacking on our parts, of the duty that
we owe to the Almighty ; we can do more than
we are doing ; for instance, after schooling our
children, we can bind them to different trades,
so that we may possess among our people all
the arts and sciences that man is in possession
of. Some of you think you cannot spare your
children to go and learn a trade, but you are
mistaken ; you may have them longer than if
they had no trade ; for many times your children
go to hard servitude on boats or ships, and you
never see that son or daughter again. If you
had done your duty in giving him a trade, he
might set up business in the same city where
you live, or travel off to find a better place ;
and when he has worked long enough to know
that it is a better place than where he learned
his trade, he goes back and tells them what a
fine place he has found, or writes to them to
come on where he is. You can either go, or

31

let it alone, but you can see that the child is
not exposed to all kinds of danger, as if he had
no trade.

Again, it makes better men of them, for boat-
men are very apt to be rude. I do not like
children to be boatmen ; I had rather they
should learn every trade under heaven, if some
of them have to go on the river or sea to do it.
Why should our children stay so far behind
others, and you saying you cannot spare them ;
you are keeping him back; in this way, our
nation is kept back. Now let your children
learn a trade, or learn to be farmers, and in ten
years you would see a great improvement
among this people. Come, friends, let us try
it, and then you will see your sons and your
daughters come right up from the condition they
are in. Let us try it, and never cease till it is
accomplished. All heaven is willing for this
matter. Who is it that cannot be an honorable
man ; that is, if he conducts himself in an hon-
orable wayl Then seek these things, and they
shall come to pass in their season ; and if you
never seek, you shall never find. Then let
every father and every mother and every child
seek this principle of honor.

Here we make a severe struggle to bring
our race into this honorable society of people ;
and after we have used ail the lawfnl means
that is in our power, then we are to give them
up and renounce them, and if he is a thief, let
every man, woman and child mark him, and

32

he will not go far, before he is overtaken and
put in such close confinement, that he will not
disgrace his people. Friends, flesh and blood
is nigh, but we must cut ourselves off from
every thing that is odious in the sight of God
and man, in order for this scattered race to re-
deem themselves from under that heavy frown
that looked on Africa, when siie transgressed
against God, and fell from the state she was
then in. And great was the fall ! yes, so great
that man can feel it to this day ; and them that
look upon her condition, mourn her sad con-
dition. We sprang from that nation, and shall
we still disobey, and never come from that
fallen state ? Brethren, let us come together
and search out the cursed thing that keeps us
so far'back in this world.

Let us try ourselves by the standard of truth,
and still call on the God of heaven and earth
to help us in our sad condition. 0, that a
strong union may exist in every breast, in order
that we may have this union complete, as God
requires it to be.

We call on the people in the name of our
God, to give themselves io fasting and prayer ■
on Easter Monday ; let it be a solemn day that
we set apart from all other days, all through
our lives, and then as loi^g as time shall be, or
till the sun shall be blown out, to rise no more.
Then our day of fasting and prayer comes to
an end, and we will be gathered home ; they
that have done good, to the resurrection of life;

33

and they that have drne evil, to the resurrection
of damnation ; all vdil be brought forth, thenj
in their own order. Let this day of fasting
and prayer be remembered by all on earth, and
nations unborn mav rise up and hold this day
that is set apart by heir fathers in 1847.

The day chosen i^ Easter Monday, in the year
1847; that all churches, of every name and
every order vndev heaven, are called upon to
give that day to the Lord our God, in fasting
and prayer, for the union of this people, that
they shall no longer live at a distance from
their God, and from each other. 0, that every
soul that has set his foot oil God Almighty's
footstool, may claim that day to be a day of
days to his soul! Saint and sinner are called
upon this day, so long as the Lord your God
gives you breath to breathe, and the time rolls
around, and you find yourself in existence.
Who knows, what God may do for you, when
miUions are engaged the same day and time,
caUing on God for a union. He may unite
your soul to Christ by a living faith. Do not
neglect it — now is your time — God says, try
me and prove me, and see if I do not pour you
out such a blessing, that there shall not be room
enough to receive it. Brethren, prayer and
fasting have removed mountains. When we
look at God, we must look at him just as he is,
a God of all power and all goodness, love and
mercy ; and this is all for man. If they will
ask for it they shall have it, and more, in this

34

life, and in the world to come, life everlasting;
then let us beheve in him and ask for the things
we need.

When Mordecai perceived all that was done,
he rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with
ashes, and went into the midst of the city, and
cried with a loud and a bitter cry, for he knew
that they were in a dreadful condition, from
the decree that had gone out from the king,
that every Jew should be destroyed. This
went through all the provinces wheresoever the
king had command. Surely, this rested heavy
on the minds of the Jews— they proclaimed a
day of fasting and prayer. It seems that every
Jew was in the same condition, that lived in
the king's provinces. Well, they cried with
Mordecai, and united their cries to the Lord,
the God of heaven and earth; and this cry came
to the queen, and she was a Jewess; and \vheii|
Mordecai brought it to her understanding, thatl
tho.ugh she was Queen Esther, she Avas a Je^v-
ess, and had to die with her people, then she
increased the fastingand praying threefold; for
she and her maidens fasted and prayed three
days and three nights. Although it was death
to enter the king's inner court, yet she arose and
said, if I perish, I perish ; and she dressed herself
in royal apparel, and went into the inner court,
and the king held out the sceptre to her. Thus
was she made instrumental in the hands of
God, of turning the king's fury, and granting
liberty to the Jews. 0, can we not trust God

for

35

for all things, and go to work like men that be-
long to the Lord Our God? You see this great
deliverance that the Lord our God hath wrought
for the Jews. He is no respecter of persons, of
those that put their trust in him. Let us take
God at his word; watch and pray, that ye enter
not into temptation. You will recollect that
Jonah was not delivered from the whale's belly,
until he had prayed and entered into covenant
with God, and agreed to do that thing which
the Lord had commanded him to do; then the
God of the sea and land commanded the fish
:o take him to shore. It seems that there must
be an unwillingness in man, to d'o what God
intends he shall do; and if he still hardens his
heart, he has great reason to fear the judg-
ments of the Almighty; and it seems to me,
that the judgments of God are upon this nation,
and it becomes us to begin to ask of God what
he will have us to do. Let all ask, and not
Dnly ask, but let us mend our ways while we
are asking of our heavenly Father. I find,
while Jonah prayed, his heart became more
humble; he says he was in pain. When God
Almighty threatened Nineveh with an over-
throw for their transgressions, did they stand
idle after they got the word from the man of
God ? No ! but they come down immediately,
even in dust and ashes before God ; fasted,
prayed, and God's wrath was appeased. Ask,
and it shall be given.
The day that was set that we should hol^

36

apart unto the Lord, is come; it has found me
on God Almighty's footstool, with the breath i
of life in me. Shall I be one that shall, in the
hand of God, be a helper to consecrate this day
to the Lord our God, by giving myself to the
Lord in fasting and prayer, with all this great
body of people that shall this day unite their
cries around the throne of God, our Saviour,
praying that the God of heaven and earth may
grant us united prayerful hearts, all the days of
our lives. 0 that my heart and soul may be
warm with this united prayer, that never was
called on before, particularly for this people, in
their situation. 0 Lord, help us now to call
on thee, our God, to assist each one upon thy
footstool, on land or on rivers, on the ocean
or wherever the day may find them ; may they
not be of a stubborn heart on that day, and
cause God Almighty's anger to wax hot
against them, because they have no desire to
forsake their idols, and call on the name of the
Lord our God.

One day, when Cornelius fasted and prayed,
God heard and answered, and said he was " no
respecter of persons, but in every nation, he
that feareth him and worketh righteousness, is
accepted with him." Acts x. 34. Fasting and
prayer is a righteous act before God.

What shall a man give in exchange for his
soul ? The soul of man, according to the word
of God, is always sensible of what state it is
in, whether in hell or heaven, or on earth.

37

Had I a million of worlds, would I not give
them all to know, in my last hours in this
world, that I had made my peace with my
creator, God? Time is leaving you; consider,
you have only one life and one soul, and you
may throw it into hell or heaven by your con-
duct in this life. The soul is sensible after
death. "Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of
hosts, and I will turn to you.'^ The Lord calls
man to turn his course, and he will meet him
by turning to him.

Malachi, chap. x. 2, says, "' If ye will not
hear and if ye will not lay it to heart to give
glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts,
I will even send a curse upon you, and will
curse your blessings ; yea, I have cursed them
already, because ye do not lay it to heart." 0,
will this people stand idle, without thought ?
shall they let time move them into eternity, to
face the very God that made them, and bade
them call, and they have refused the call?
Look what you are doing by refusing the call
of God Almighty ; you are sealing your own
damnation, and making sure your own de-
struction. Do you say, I have no time to re-
pent ? I tell you, before God and all the angels
that surround the throne, you may be in hell
before to-morrow morning ! Then be sure
that you do not ne2||[ect your soul till it is too
late. One generation is passing away, and an-
other is rising up ; at last, all will pass away
4

ss

at one ..time. Now, among the eight hundred
millions that inhabit this globe, thirty and 'three
years, or thereabouts takes them into eternity,
and others rise up and take their place, and in
the same tmie this generation passes away to
their long home. I want you to understand^
that it takes about the time mentioned, for one
generation to pass away. If a generation'
passes away in thirty-three years, how many
generations must have passed already into
another world !

And these unnumbered millions, at the sound
of the trump of God, have to come to the
judgment seat of Christ, and every one to an-
swer for the deeds done in the body, good or
bad. '0, heaven enable us to have good deeds,
that we may answer with joy and not with
grief. Millions of those born again, will see
their father's face, in that blessed world of rest
that is prepared for them. 0 come, and let
us try this new birth that Christ taught to Ni-
codemus; "you must be born again, or you
cannot see the kingdom of God." 0 come, and
let us seal our everlasting peace by obeying
the voice of God, whilst we have ears to hear,
or a heart to understand ! 0 praise the Lord
for his goodness, that he ever stooped so low
as to give his only begotten Son to make atone-
ment foT us, that whosoever believed in him,
though he was dead, he should be made alive !
Every sinner has a dead soul in him, and that
dead soul must be made alive, or burn in hell

39

to all eternity. Attend to it ! Death will soon
move that dead soul to its place. Death has to
kill the body, that the soul may no longer have
a hiding place in this house of clay. Death has
shattered the soul's cabin, in which the soul
dwelleth, and it is compelled to leave. It is
naked because it hath not sought any covering
of the Maker of heaven and earth. For this
reason it is a naked and dead soul, out of its
shelter. Death came across its cabin, and tore
it down ; and the soul cannot build it again,
for death did not come till he got permission
from his master ; he generally fights the body,
and he gets it worried down lower and lower,
until the soul must leave, because of death.
Where must it go ? It is naked ! it is not co-
vered with the righteousness of Christ ! Then,
according to the Book of God, it must be ex- ^
posed to every evil spirit, and be seized hj^^,
them, and brought down to that world of wo
and misery, where the fallen angels are con-
fined in chains of darkness, until the Day of
the Judgment of the great God Almighty !
Then they will hear their final doom.

0, do not let the judgment find the soul un-
prepared ! Feet, where are you carrying the
soul to? are you not walking in forbidden
paths? Death may be in some of these paths.
Hands, how often have you warred against the
soul, doing the very thing that God hath for-
bidden ? Mouth, have you not helped to damn
the soul, by cursing and swearing and lying ?

40

All these things lead down to the pit of damna-
tion. Eyes, what are you about, that you
cannot watch for the soul, and not suffer these
feet and hands and mouth to do so much mis-
chief to the soul ? because, if you do not watch
these many members, they will damn the soul
to all eternity. It seems that the tongue is an
unruly member ; James says, " it cannot be
tamed; it is unruly, and full of deadly poison ;
set on fire of hell.'^ Cannot the eye watch
the other members, and keep them from damn-
ing the soul, by running headlong into forbidden
paths? I condemn all the members, eye, hand
and foot; they are all agreed together, to go on
"and war against the soul. Then the mind
must be changed. ' God keep thy tongue from
evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

It is out of the abundance of the heart that
the mouth speaketh, and with the heart men
believe unto righteousness, and with the mouth
confession is rhade unto salvation. ^ These
things do not war against the soul ; you have
fruit unto holiness, and the end is everlasting
life. How much better, then, it is to endeavor
to save the soul ! Let the same mind be in you
that was in Christ Jesus, and endeavor to be
led by the Spirit of Christ ; for if any man
have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of
his. The Holy Spirit does a great deal; he
frees the soul, calms the burning flames and
brings the dead soul to life. He provides a
heavenly garment, so that when -death conies^

41

it may kill the body, but it cannot kill the soul,
because of the' blood of Christ. So much, then,
for having the mind of Christ. Let all seek to
have the mind changed, that we may be led
by the Spirit of Christ. In order to be led by
the Spirit of Christ, we must be born again ;
born of that spirit that can lead us from earth
to that blessed world of rest, that remains for
the people of God.

Come, friends, don't read, and do no more>
You must make the inquiry, how stands the
case between God Almighty and your soul ;
and endeavor to receive the Spirit of Christ,
that you may be a lively stone in the building,
meet for the master^s use,, cleansed by his blood !
A lively stone in the building ? We must live
godly and soberly in Christ Jesus the Lord,
which is your salvation.

Now, I leave this part in your minds, till I
look over the world of mankind, and see how
many there are that will take heed to their way,
and come up unitedly to serve the Lord with
one accord, and be the people God wants them
to be. For he says, *' Ethiopia shall soon
stretch out her hands unto God.^^ Look,
now, and see if you are making any exertion
in this matter. God has said it, and you must
do it, and do it unitedly ; for he judges Israel,
and kill them that would not obey. 0, Ethi-
opia, have you obeyed the voice of God Al-
mighty, that spoke by the voice of thunder, to
the Israelites on the Mount Sinai? They saw
4*

42

the cloud, and heard the thunder so loud, that
they feared to stand near, but told Moses to go
and speak to God ; and all that God told him
they should do, did they do it? No, but still
rebelled against the man of God, and refused
to take the counsel that God gave to Moses for
them. For this, the Lord's anger was kindled
against Israel, and he made them wander in
the wilderness forty years, until the generation
that had done evil in the sight of the Lord was
consumed. -Then be not: an evil doer, lest thou
share the same fate. Many things that we do
can be let alone; do you believe it? then let
alone evil practices; the mind must be changed
before you can be saved. " The Spirit and the
bride say. Come. And let him that heareth
say, Come. And let him that is athirst come.
And whosoever will, let him take of the water
of life freely.'' — Rev. xxii. 17.

I have heard some people say that at God's
own appointed time he would bring all these
things to pass that we have been speaking
about. Friends, let me tell you the truth, and
you believe it, God's time is when you get right
and do right. God ever has worked in this
way with the nations of the earth, so you need
not to think of living in your laziness, never
asking God to help and bless you and your
family, but still say that God will do all at his
appointed time. That appointed time is now,
this day. God told Noah to build the ark, and
he went to work and built it. The same God

I

43

has told you to repent of your sins. Have you
done so ? The same God told Israel what they
had to do before they left Egypt. Were they
obedient to God's word or not ? God does not
bless men in disobedience. In order that we
may receive strength from the Lord our God,
we must be obedient to him as the Governor
of the universe. Whatever he bids us do
hasten so to do, as obedient children, and
not set on the stool of do nothing saying,
that God in his own appointed time will bring
all things to pass as though he did not require
any thing of you at all. My friend, if you
look at it just as it is, God has laid .the foun-
dation and you are the builders. Now tell
me what are you waiting for ? God has r^r.-^Q
his work in laying the foundation and telU you
to build on the foundation: "for other foun-
dation can no man lay than that is laid, which
is Jesus Christ.'' 1 Cor. iii. 11. God requires
to use all the means in our power to bring
peace and union, that God's name may be
glorified here on the earth. How are men to
build on the foundation that God has laid ?
They should " seek, first the kingdom of God,
and his righteousness ; and all these things
shall be added unto you." Matthew vi. 33.
Then God looks for your work. You are not
your own, you are bought with a price, and of
course have to work for him that bought you
vvith his own precious blood. He redeemed
us for himself. Then let us begin a heavenly

44

\vork, having an eye particularly on this young
race, and give them to the Lord our God, in
prayer, even as Hannah gave Samuel to the
Lord. She said, " I have lent him to the Lord ;
as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the
Lord.^^ 1 Samuel i. 28. 0 then, if we have
that desire to see a generation rising from the
dust, clothed with the righteousness of the
Lord our God, let us do as Hannah did, give
them to God Almighty. Pray for them, and
pray with them ; send them to Sunday school,
and train them up to God in their young days.
Then all will unite in the same thing, and then
3^ou will see the nation that God Almighty will
delight to own and bless.

JNIany of the colored people are free, and
have neither master nor owner. Then surely
you can train up your children in the way they
should go, and when they grow old they will
not depart from it. If you fail to do what is
in your power to do with these children how
can you look for a blessing. In time past, your
fathers were deprived of this blessing, and of
course they could not be charged with not rais-
ing their children in the right manner; that is,
if they did all they could according to their
situation. But as you are free, (thanks be to God
for it,) the guilt comes on your own head. In-
dustry and education should be your concern
about this young race. Look over the whole
world, and see the nations all endeavoring to
advance to a higher state of life. Industry and

45

good education is the principal way of ad-
vancing in life. Look at the Friends or Quakers.
They go on with steady habits. All things are
clea?n and nice around them. They raise their
children to be industrious and give them a good
education. Can we not take pattern by them?
Move on in the circle of life patiently, making
but little noise. Always keep at work but never
seem to be in a hurry. Don't work a great
deal one o^r two days and then loiter three or
four days. My friend, you must have another
spirit in you, or the little spirit that is in 3^ou
must be kindled up. You have lived here long
enough to have had a good house and home,
then had buildings to rent out. Instead of that,
you are getting old, and have not a house to
put your head in. I think if you would live
a little more plain and save some of your
money, you might in time be able to buy your-
self a good farm. There are very few of our
people that have their own house to live in.
They generally live in rented houses or on
rented farms. Is there no help for this ? I
should work night and day, and never stop till
I got a piece of land to build a house on. In-
dustry and care will do it. Don't get out of
heart, and go and get drunk before you buy
your land. I hope that you will consider that
just as long as you are living in rented houses
you are making yourself a slave for somebody
else, and you say you do not like slavery. You
say that you are free and have been so for

46

many yearns, and have paid money enough to
have bought a good house and lot. Friends,
these things ought not so to be. They can be
altered. I'tell you perseverance will alter them.
Try it, and I do not think you will ever re-
gret it. Then why set ye here and look at one
another ? Why not get enough to last as long
as you and all your family live. Don't sit
there any longer. Rise and go to work like
men, and buy property and live like men and
women in this world. If you have not got
religion, Godsends rain on the just and the un-
just. But while you are receiving all these good
things, remejnber, 0 man, that thou hast an
immortal soul that has to be saved or lost to
all eternity. Then let us wake up, not only in
regard to earthly concerns, but also in regard
to eternity, which is just before us. While we
are gathering earthly things take notice that
there are heavenly things that can be gathered
that will last in that blessed world where God
has a house not made with hands, eternal in
the heavens. Come, come, you that read this
little book, — think, that your eyes look upon
it now, but in a Uttle time the eyes that see it
will be closed in death, and where will the
soul be ? We have taught you the way of life
in this little book, and if you take the word of
life your soul will be forever blessed of the
Lord our God. We have taught you the word
that was good for soul and body, and after all,
if you refuse it, 0 let me tell you, you refuse

47

the salvation of your own soul. I have laid
before you many temporal enjoyments that are
calculated to make a man see many good days
in this world, but to prepare for death is better
than all things besides, because this life is not
long, but the life to coiiie has no end. Come
then and learn to fear the Lord, that your days
may be long. But spend your time in laboring
and attend to your own business and be saving
of all that the Lord enables you to get. Use
much industry, and you will see in a little time
if you will not have as good a home as any
man.

I call industry, King Cure-all, and I call idle-
ness, Mr. Pull-down-all. Notice, every indus-
trious man must be happy, if he have a good
industrious, saving wife ; that man surely will
have him a home ; then he will have no need
of working for every body but himself. In a
few years, with care, he will have a farm or
a ship or a boat; bat thefarm before all. A
good industrious farmer, surely has the greatest
enjoyment of any situation in life. It is a de-
sirable situation for any good man. A bad
man does not care for the things that will make
him happy, and all around him. A good in-
dustrious man will be respected by all that
know him ; he has no stingy principle, but al-
ways ready to bear a hand to any good thing ;
nice in his. family, nice in dealing and in all his
[depcrt^ient.

I w ill give you a description of King Cure-

I r

4S

all and Mr. Pull-down-all. King Cure-all is
much of a gentleman ; his word is good fur all
that he tells you ; you need not fear him, for I
have 'known him for about fifty years, and I
never knew him to fail in anything. He is a
great man. You can try him ; he will soon
give you land, or -a 'good home. He is very
rich, and never fails to give to every one that
goes to him ; he will not only give you land,
but he will also give you horses and cattle, and
sheep and hogs, and geese and turkeys, and
more than I can mention at this time ; he has
plenty for every one that goes to him; he keeps
all things nice around him ; you can go into his
house any day, and you will see all- the things
setting in their right places. Go into his field,
you will see his nice farm and good fences, and
good barn, for that is half the battle with King
Cure-all. This barn enables him to keep the
things that he raises on his farm, and to pick up
the crumbs, that nothing be lost. King Cure-
all is a mighty man ; he has plenty of money
to give to everyone that comes ; he has a good
many friends, and they are generally wealthy.
Sir, if you do not belong to that class, and have
not been to see the gentleman, I would recom-
mend you to come immediately. His acquaint-
ance is large; his friends sometimes have to
share the fate of all the earth, by that monster
called death, which takes both youog. and old.
They generally make a will, and will the line
things received from -King Cure-all, to liis

49

'friends ; and it may be, if you go and get well
acquainted with him, some of his friends may
will you a large amount some of these days.
So; I should sweep my house right clean, set
down and talk with my wife and children
about the matter, and make the agreement to
take wife and children along, to see King Cure-
all. Friend, you have now started with your
whole family, to see the gentleman ; I hope
that you will excuse me, if I give you a "little
advice, while you and your family are on the
way. You have made a lively start — you have
swept your house clean and nice — you are on
the way ; go on, and take care that you do not
get drunk before you get to your journey's end.
If you follow that practice, you can never see
King Cure-qjl ; a drunken man does not get
much of his fortune. If he should happen to
get hold of some, he generally takes it away
again. Only think, how awful it looks, to see
a man start to see a gentleman, from whom he
expects to receive support for all his family,
and just before he arrives in sight of King Cure-
all, he gets drunk and turns back ! O, how
awful is drunkeness ! It has made many lose
their health and all their property. No man
need ever expect to arrive at any honorable
station in life, that uses any intox:icati'ng drink.
His children's bread is gone ! — he has left his
wife to mourn ! — his strength decays ! — 0, how
dreadful it appears ! Mothers, don't you feel
the sting of this one thing? Is there no way
5

50

that these things maybe moved from the nation.
May God help each man and woman and child
to decide this matter this day, that they will be
no longer one of the subjects of Alcohol.

Now, I will give you a description of Mr.
Pull-down-all, with his laziness. I called him
a gentleman ; I hope that you will excuse me,
for I perceive that I called him altogether out
of his name, for he seems always to be shuf-
fling about in the way. I cannot tell anything
good about him, for he runs about from house
to house ; he has nothing, and gets nothing, un-
less he steals it; for his laziness pesters him
so, that he can hardly live ; and I am surprised
that he has existed so long. King Cure-all's
friends have given him a large amount, but he
soon wastes all; there is neither care nor
decency in him ; it is a "wonder that dirt has
not killed him long ago. Did you ever go
into his house ? If you have not, I have, and
I never saw anything clean about his house.
Well, I think laziness is the worst thing in the
world, and Mr. Pull-down-all has plenty of that.
His looks show it ; look how dirty and ragged
he keeps himself and family. Do you not think,
if he was a working man, that he could keep
himself and family a little nicer ? The wife, I
think, might keep herself a little better; I
think, likely, laziness has got hold of her also.
No wonder, then, that the house is dirty, and
the children are ragged. I can't tell any more
about Mr. Pull-down-all, but do keep out of his

51

company, or else he will pull you down. Come,
friends, we must wake up, for it is high time
that the things which have so long kept us
back, should be thrown aside, and we go on for
better things.

^^ Better things!^' says Mr. Pull-down. I
thought that I would not have anything more
to say about Mr. Pull-down, but seeing you
have asked the question, and seem as if you
were surprised that we have a desire to go on
for better things, I shall give a little further de-
tail of your character. It seems to me, that
you are perfectly satisfied in the situation that
you have kept your family in all the days of
your life, and you are not willing to make any
improvement. You have been so long a pul-
ling down, that you think that is the best way
for you. Do you see what a bad character you
have.^ Besides, this does not stop with you;
for here are the children, whose characters you
are pulling down by your conduct ; you will not
work yourself, nor teach your children to work,
and use all industry, that they might be a bles-
sing to their people. All that you care for in
this life, is to live from hand to mouth, and
learning your children the same way. I have
been looking at this state of things many years,
and have thought, if you would only let the
bottle go, and take that m.oney that has kept
you and all your family back, that it would be
a great gain to you and all around you. If
you will live in your dirt and laziness, all that

52

we can do, is to make the division that was
spoken of before in this Uttle book. How are
we ever to raise np an honorable set of colored
citizens in America, if we do not take our
children in hand, and show them the way.

We are desirous to have all the children in
school, but you say, No. If we cannot carry
the Avhole race along, we will carry just as
many as we can get to join the army of King
Cure-all. He has been already described.

In thinking what is best for this people, I
have been thinking that it would be best to
obey the word of God. God has taken great
pains to show man his will, concerning one
day of the seven, called the Sabbath, or the
Lord's day. This is the day that God has
blessed, and taken to himself, and told us to
keep it holy. You will have to answer at the
bar of God, how you have spent your sab-
baths. God has commanded you to keep them
holy. Have you done so ? In Genesis, second
chapter and third verse, we read, " And God
blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it, be-
cause that in it he had rested from all his works
which God created and made.'^ You see, that
the day is blessed by the God that made it.
Again, in Exodus, twentieth chapter and ninth
verse, see how careful the Lord is, in telling
you what time is allowed to man, for his earthly
concerns ; " Six days shalt thou labor and do
all thy work." I ask the reader, is thy labor
done in six days ? Hark, the voice of God is,

53

Exodus XX. 10, " The seventh day is the Sab-
bath of the Lord thy God : In it thou shalt not
do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy
daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-
servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is
within thy gates/' This is tiie word of God.
See how strict he is, in giving you directions
how you should conduct yourself. Will you
still go on, abusing that holy day, till the God
of heaven calls you to the judgment-seat of
Christ ? How long will you disobey the voice
of God, and still look for his blessings to raise
you from your state of degradation ? He must
see a disposition in you to do his will, and then
you may look for the blessing of the Great
Head of the Church upon you, in copious
showers.

In my travels, I saw a colored man, that
stated to me, that he had not had one meal^s
victuals cooked in his house for twenty-five
years, on the Sabbath day. I staid in his house
one week. He is, at this time, worth abouS
fifteen thousand dollars ; he has been baptized^
and seems to be very pious. You had just as
well cook your victuals on Saturday, for Sunday^
as to break the Lord's day cooking, and giving
great dinners to your friends. Let us be more
strict about these things.

Look how many Sunday schools there are in

America. Our v/hite friends have established

many Sunday schools for colored children, but

soiiiQ fathers and mothers are so little concerned

5*

54

for the welfare of their children, that they do
not send them. If God has given our white
friends grace to establish Sunday schools for
your children, 1 should think that you ought to
have grace enough to send them. May God
Almighty bless them abundantly for their good
work. Come, then, old and young, and let us
attend the Sunday school.

So, my friends, we will go on to do our duty
as far as we can to the whole race of man-
kind. We have agreed to unite, one with an-
other, to endeavor to raise up this 3roung
generation ; to take our place in love and union
among them jn this world. We think that the
Lord hath commanded, and he will bring to
pass.

This united band of brethren can and must
make soiiie regulation for raising the little ones
that are under our protection. I talked about
a division, but if we can get laziness out of the
way, there need be no division ; for we are de-
termined, henceforth, to lead an honorable
life. We have, already, as honorable men as
the world affords, in their station ; but this
united band of brethren has a heart, feeling
desire to see the whole race of free people
united in one band, that they may instruct their
children, and receive instruction one from an-
other. 0, then, this union ; let it come, and fill
the whole earth ! How good and how pleasant
it is, when brethren all agree ! Come along, my
dear friend, we have no desire to leave one be-

55

hind. But, sir, if you will not come and join
this honorable society, and endeavor to live
an honorable life, we must leave you ; for this
united band do not intend to hold a dishonor-
able person in their society ; for I want you to
know, that at this time, we, as free people, have
the raising of our own children, and we are
called to pur duty.

Brethren and friends that are now in Ame-
rica, on land or seas, on rivers or lakes, or all
below the sun, your warmest attention is called
to awake up to this laudal)le work. Oh, will
you come and help us in this great work ? Lay
hand and heart to work, and may God roll on
a full union among this people, when they
shall all seek the same thing, and be willing to
join together, and be a heart-feeling people,
joined in one solid band of union, never to be
broken, till the sun shall rise and set no more.
0, that God would write every name in heaven
that joins this United Band of Colored Citi-
zens of America ; for our hearts are engaged
before God, to give our children to the Lord our
God, that we may raise an honorable nation.
This old people must be engaged night and day,
for we have lost too much time. We might
have had this good work going on long ago,
had we had moral courage enough to take this
in hand. And, as we are defermined to look
more diligently into this, amongst a multitude
of counsellors there is safety ; and we shall be
safe, if we do what God Almighty has told us

5Q

to do ; namely, train up the child for God Al-
mighty's own use ; he will make the man of
him. We feel for this great mass of young
people, growing up without homes; and we
think, and are sure, that by taking them in
hand, giving them a good education, and learn-
ing them habits of industry in a manual labor
school, that thousands of them may be put in
the way to have good homes. I shall leave this
subject with you, feeling that you like to have
smart children, that can attend to business.

I think, of all people under heaven, this peo-
ple has the greatest right to endeavor to im-
prove their minds and themselves in general,
for the great v/ork of God Almighty ; and how
can this general improvement take place, ex-
cept we become united, and then form such
regulations that actually will be a benefit to
the whole nation.

Then let every state and county, and town
and village, wherever the colored man is, be-
low the sun, and he is free, I say again and
again, let them choose them a man or men, and
send on to the great National Convention
that shall be held in the year of our Lord, 1847^
time and place mentioned after this ; for there
must be a general meeting of this people, be-
fore we can accomplish this union that has to
be accompUshed, before we need to open our
mouths about elevation or honor, or the ge-
neral education of the youth.

Then, let each state or county, or city or vil-

57

lagGj or town or any place below the sun, send
a man or men to represent them to the conven-
tion. I say agam, that they should hold meet-
ings with each other, in the different places
mentioned, and see if this union could not be
accomplished, in order to let the convention
know that this union can be accomplished.

I say again, that all those different societies,
and every name and order, without respect of
persons, may send from their different stations,
a letter to the convention, and that letter shall
certify that they certainly do see and feel the
need of this union, and to let the convention
know, that your hearts and souls feel, to be
united to the great United Band of Colored
Citizens of America. Then send your letters,
with the pledge. .All those letters should be
kept in good order by the convention, and or-
dered to be bound in a i30ok, that the rising gene-
ration may hear about the great meeting of their
aged fathers. They w411 hear how their fathers
came together on that day, and presented their
names and pledges, to be united to the great
body of colored citizens, that are now free.
Colored men of America, wherever you are
scattered in different directions upon American
soil, prepare for this great meeting. Oh, that
God would enable all free people to send their
man or men, to the National Convention !
Send your name, and place of residence, with
your desire and pledge, that the same may be
recorded in the great Ledger that shall be

5S

handed down from generation to generation.
Then shall they remember that this nation has
made agreement before God and angels, that
this union shall exist till the sun shall rise and
set no more forever. Amen ! Even so ! Come,
Lord Jesus, and help this people to stretch out
their hands unto God.

Again, by your sending a letter we shall
know that a union is already formed as to your
part. The record shall be made according to
your desire. So send the desire of your soul.
May the God of heaven and earth enable you
all to live in peace and union from this time
until the tongue is still in death.

Particular pains should be taken how you
speak to each other, and to every body, for if
we are going to make an improvement, we
should irpprove the whole man. So I am for
making an improvement in our words. Let
even the thought of this union, never to be
broken, cause wrath to cease, and bitter words
to be thrown away like the chaff of the summer
threshing floor.

Dear friends, this little book is now coming
to a close. I pray that God may open the hearts
of all who read this little book for the recep-
tion of the things written in it.

But before I close these remarks, I shall call
on all the females that live this side of the haven
of eternal rest. You expect to rest your soul in
glory in a coming day ; do you not wish to meet
your children there ? I call on you to let the

59

God of heaven rule your judgment in this great
work, for I do assure you that it is your child-
ren that the God of heaven hath put it in our
hearts to endeavor to unite in one band of
union, in order that wa may give a general
education to this young race, without respect
of persons, so we call on you to assist us by
lending your aid in this matter. Much may be
done by you in carrying on this great work.
0 then, let young and old say, seeing that God
hath spared my life to see these days come, I
will aid this union band. Then, sisters, form
yourselves in bands. Call them union bands,
and meet once a month and bring something
with you, and all put your mites together for a
school fund. Then the convention will not
have to wait till one year before they can begin
their operations, but they can say in 4he con-
vention where they will establish the first
school, appoint men to attend the work, and go
right on and raise schools. You can then send
your children to a school of your ov/n, and
have them well taken care of. It makes no
matter where they come from, all will be treated
alike, all sleep alike, all eat alike. I have the
opinion that it would be better for children to
move them to different schools, so soon as we
could get them in order to receive children ; my
opinion is, that pious teachers would be the best
for these schools.

I cannot close before I give a general call to
the colored citizens of America to attend the

60

National Conven.tion in Pittsburgh, on the
first Monday in September, 1847.

A resolution was passed at the convention of
colored ministers, held in Philadelphia, in July,
1846, appointing a committee to call a National
Convention to take into consideration the gene-
ral education of our youth, and also the gene-
ral union of those free people of color that are
now scattered in different directions in the
United States of America. The names of the
committee calling the Convention are the fol-
lowing : —

John B. Meachum, St. Louis, Mo.
William Williams, Washington, D. C.
Jeremiah Asher, Providence, R. I.
James Mo C. Crummill, Philadelphia, Pa.

The cteimittee calls upon all the free colored
citizens of the United States. It is an especial
call for the union of this great body of people.
Do not fail to come, all of every name and
order, far and wide. Send your man or men,
id show that your heart hath joined that body
of colored citizens. Our souls shall cry for
union from one end of the globe to the other as
far as an Ethiopian's foot has trod the soil, and
the news reaches the ear.

^ We are going to come together in the year of
our Lord 1S47, on the first Monday in Sep-
tember. We shall endeavor to form plans, and
establish manual labor schools in different direc-
tions, wherever the convention thinks most ex-

61

pedient. Let this union be formed and the
representatives strike hands and hearts together.
Let us form a union that never shall be dis-
solved so long as the sun and moon and stars
shall move on ; when all these give up their
courses and fall from their places then our
union will cease in this world, but then we shall
go to join that great company that is spoken of
in Revelation.

In order that we should not wait a year be-
fore we begin operations, let us be active about
this matter. It is surely worth your notice.
Begin now to hold your meetings and put all
your pennies together, and send them by the
man that you send to the Convention. If all
will do this, when the Convention breaks up,
then those who may be appointed by the Con-
vention to attend to this business, can begin
immediately. Do not. fail to send your mites,
for we have lost too much time already.
Friends, work a little harder.

Certainly the mothers of the children will
wake up on this matter. The ladies can do a
great deal if they form themselves into circles,
and pay in school funds. And the young men
should form themselves into companies called
the United Band, and raising this school fund,
and in a little time the school will start, and then
you can have the privilege of going to this
school. And in a little time we will have some
jkinds of trades going jon there, and you can

6

62

have Ih'e privilege of learning a good trade, and
getting a good education at the same time.

Do not fail to pray that God would bless the
deliberations of the Convention, so that the
temporal and spiritual welfare of our race may
be secured, and the glory of God promoted.

NATIONAL CONVENTION.

The National Convention of the Colored
citizens of America, will be held in Pitts-
burg, on the first Monday in September, 1847.

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